Man threatened with handgun and forced into boot of car during east Belfast robbery

A MAN was threatened with a suspected handgun and forced into the boot of his own car during a terrifying robbery in east Belfast.

It happened in the Isoline Street area on Thursday night and police believe it may be linked to a separate incident in south Belfast in the early hours of Friday.

Police said the victim was getting out of his white Seat Ibiza when he was confronted by two men.

One of the men was reported to have been armed with a handgun during the robbery between 10pm and 10.30pm.

The driver was forced back into his car and then placed into the boot before being driven to an address in the Glenside Road area of west Belfast where he was tied up and left.

He managed to free himself a short time later and contacted police.

PSNI Detective Inspector Michael McDonnell said he believed the robbery was linked to another incident just hours later in the south of the city.

"At around 2.30am on Friday morning as two men alighted from a taxi in the Sandhurst Drive area of south Belfast, they were approached by three or four masked men," he said.

"One of the masked men proceeded to assault one of the males and a firearm was produced.

"Demands were then made for the assaulted man to hand over belongings including an iPhone.

"The masked males then made off in a white Seat Ibiza, which was found burnt out in Ardmonagh Parade in west Belfast at around 3.30am.

"I believe both incidents to be linked and am appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident in Isoline Street, the robbery in Sandhurst Drive or who saw the white Seat Leon being abandoned and set on fire in Ardmonagh Parade to contact detectives."